This animation shows the orbit of asteroid 2003 EH1. This "asteroid" may actually be an "extinct" comet, and may be the source of the Quadrantid meteors. The animation flips between a view from above the Sun's North Pole to a view from the ecliptic (the plane of the Earth's orbit), showing how this asteroid's orbit carries it far out of the ecliptic plane. Note that Earth is closest to the asteroid's orbit around January 3rd, which is the time each year when the Quadrantid meteor shower occurs. Original animation by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell). Images courtesy NASA/JPL.